For the past couples of months I have had a collection of dogs (specifically Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers) that were really, really interesting. Not because of the reasons one might initially think. In this particular group, only one dog had a bite history and the majority are pups. What I experienced with these dogs was an unwavering need to work and an unbelievable drive. This retriever pack assembled at my house represented a series of dogs that have a really, really hard time surrendering. The universe chose to send me a cluster of dogs that would not give in, ever. Under no circumstances. To anything. Being able to remain in an almost perpetual state of avoidance. Making it an extremely interesting few months, with lots of learning going on, specially on my part. My friend John Flores says that you practice when you don’t need to, because when you need it, it’s just practice. I second that whole heartedly. Nevertheless these dogs taught me a level of commitment to my own beliefs that I didn’t know I had. They showed me what surrender looks like, even, or specially when it’s hard to achieve. For that lesson I will be forever grateful to this particular pack of retrievers.
It all started with Sally. A Golden Retriever pup of five months. The cutest, most enchanting pup you could ever see… until the “terrorist” came out.
– Quick explainer: the use of the word terrorist in this particular case has to do with irony. I do not believe or claim that a dog can or would ever be a terrorist. Since that requires a sense of self.
Back to Sally “the terrorist”. This pup was absolutely, positively not afraid. Of anything. Maybe, and specially personal harm. In Sally’s mind, the world is good and we are here to conquer it. Even if we trip, bulldoze over, break, crash, dig, we just, simply, must keep going. Always! And forever! Did I mention that Sally was five months when I met her? Her parents were exasperated. They are a young couple, that got the perfect Golden puppy to create the perfect new home that they had recently bought. Sally all but destroyed it. What they got, in a nutshell, was a perfectly bred to work, top of the line Golden Retriever. Sally and all of the other similar dogs that came through the doors were acquired pretty much with the same intent, but with the wrong consequences. The intent I presume was getting the “perfect” family dog (in these cases retrievers) and that would be enough for the dog to be “good”.
The consequences were as follows:
-top of the line, perfectly bred dogs have a much higher chances of being tuned in to what they were initially bred to do. In this case retrieve and keep going. Hunting dogs that they are. Sally, Buddy, Chief, Oliver, Callie were all perfect working dogs. They would all be at home in the marshes going back and forth for hours bringing back the hunt.
-Sally, Buddy, Chief and Callie are also what are called ‘top of the litter’ dogs. These are the pups that breeders and/or K9 trainers want since they perfectly exemplify the breed. High drive being one of the main characteristics that is looked for.
-they were given very few rules and boundaries (if any) when their owners interacted with them. The pups with high drive and perfect pedigree receive scarce direction from their new pack.
The stage was set then for all of the troubles to begin. Sally, Callie and Buddy all came to our Puppy Preschool Program (all were pups of about six months). The owner’s were quick to realize that they needed assistance in teaching these youngsters. I am so grateful that they did. Insofar as physical stamina, the puppies were not able to sustain avoidance as long as Chief and Oliver, who came as adults dogs. For that I am very thankful. Nevertheless in terms of drive, it is a wondrous thing to see that these high drive dogs are born that way. The intensity of their commitment to whatever it is they are doing is imprinted into who they are. The best one can do is harness that energy into positive outcomes. Teach these working dogs how to channel their drive into something productive – since they are not going to be retrieving as a job, we found other things for the pups to do as a vehicle for releasing that energy.
Oliver and Chief were a little more tricky. Since both are adults dogs that have practiced avoidance for a long time, the time they ended up spending with me was considerably longer. Usually, the time that it takes to create new grooves of behavior is directly proportionate to the length of time the unwanted behavior has bee practiced. That makes it easier to grasp the reason why Oliver and Chief needed more time to become the best versions of themselves. It was challenging work. Nevertheless I was (and still am) in awe of how hard these pups labored. They gave everything they had in order to maintain their status quo. They didn’t know any other way of existing except the way that they had practiced for years. In those years they outlasted, outwitted or overcame any challenge their owners gave them. Avoidance in those households, for these dogs, became a way of life. Reflecting their owner’s growing unsureness about how to best guide them, these dogs took charge and imprinted how they should interact with the world.
I am eternally grateful for how much dogs teach me everyday. This pack of retrievers showed me that through hard work, repetition, practice, time, guidance and the right pack support, one can overcome almost anything. Even long held patterns of behavior that seem impossible to break. They showed me how long and how hard one has to work in order to surrender to what is, not to what one believes or wishes it to be. I learned with this pack that surrender is possible even when it seems unattainable. When everything in your body fights against it and tells you it can not be done… it can be done. That is the power of Dog Psychology, it teaches us lessons about ourselves as well. Many times during this process I questioned myself, questioned the direction of the training, was questioned by the owners and the dogs and had moments of self doubt in terms of my stamina in relation to theirs. But I trusted the process, I have confidence in my knowledge and in Dog Psychology, and I just kept moving forward. The results were spectacular and I am thrilled to say that with the support of the owners, the pup’s hard work and an unwavering commitment on my part, all of these dogs have now gone home and are doing great. One of the owner’s, when thanking me said: “thank you for building me up as a person…” all I can say to that is I am indebted to this pack for doing the same for me.
Happy training.
